A check dam on Musi to retain water for Gandhi Sarovar

The Musi Riverfront Development project envisages retention of water at the confluence of Musa and Esi rivers near Bapu Ghat at Langar Houz for its development as a tourism spot as part of Phase-I of the project. It is in the midst of the retained water that the Gandhi Sarovar project is proposed, through the installation of the ‘world’s tallest’ statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

As per the official information, a check-dam is being proposed at the location for retaining the water, as against construction of a reservoir, as widely believed. The government has recently issued a land acquisition notification for properties in the buffer zone where the Gandhi Sarovar project is being proposed, giving rise to widespread consternation and disapproval.

Detailed project plans of the Musi rejuvenation and development are set to be unveiled by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on March 13. Officials informed that final touches are being made to the detailed project report under preparation for the project.

An earlier experiment to retain water in the river for tourism purposes had failed miserably. Two rubber dams were installed on the Musi River, one at the High Court and another near the Salar Jung Museum, 16 years ago, at a cost of over ₹16 crore. They proved counterproductive by trapping trash and providing a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes. Proven as white elephants, they were eventually discarded.

However, the government now hopes to pump 2.5 tmcft of water from Mallanna Sagar reservoir into the twin reservoirs, to be released into Musi river. In order to arrest sewage from entering the river, 70 sewage treatment plants are being installed.

Officials informed that the river is being designed with a one-in-100-year flood level in mind. The 1908 floods carried one-in-1000 year flows in the river, amounting to over 4 lakh cusecs of water, after which the twin reservoirs were planned on the river.

Trunk mains will be laid on both sides of the river in the buffer zone to carry storm water and sewage, which will be treated in the STPs before being released into the river. An East-West corridor will be developed on both sides of the river, also in the buffer zone, improving connectivity to the ORR.